At the very moment Lahar issued the order, Mest tossed a Bursting Magic Crystal through the clock tower's window.
The high and middle-ranking officials gathered inside were dumbfounded, watching a round object roll to the center of the hall.
This thing looks familiar, and it seems to be glowing?
"It's a Bursting Magic Crystal! Enemy attack!"
A young man with messy hair shouted, quickly retreating and leaping through the window with a black longsword on his back.
At the same time, a bald man and a purple-haired girl also quickly reacted, nimbly rushing toward the door.
Boom!
The sound of the explosion made the windowpanes buzz, and the firelight illuminated every window.
Among the dozens of lower and mid-level personnel, around ten individuals reacted slightly slower and were blown away by the blast wave, landing in a dizzy heap.
More of them managed to react in time, leaping outside to lie prone, thus minimizing the impact.
Everyone quickly got up, some heading for the door, some for the windows, shouting words like "enemy attack" while rushing out.
At this time, the sect members on the second floor heard the explosion and their companions' shouts.
Some hurriedly ran downstairs, while others simply jumped down from the second floor.
People continuously rushed out of the clock tower; Reby and her team were witnessing members of this Black Magic Sect for the first time.
They all wore unified black hooded cloaks, some wielding magic staffs and others holding weapons like swords.
There were three high-ranking officials present, and the middle and lower-ranking members intuitively split into three teams.
Although it was a very scattered formation, due to the uniform attire and their numbers, they appeared quite imposing.
"It's those Council guys again? So annoying." The purple-haired girl Mary said it was annoying, but there was a smile on her lips, "Let's just let them die from disease this time!"
"Ocha... The Divine officer said not to harm too many Council members; we should try to avoid drawing attention now."
The bald middle-aged man named Haomen, with strange words "matcha" tattooed on his forehead, wore clothes similar to Jura, was at a loss to understand his statement.
"Grandfather is just too naggy and stubborn." Mary complained with some dissatisfaction, "Even if he wants to hide, we're already targeted by the Council; we must let them see our strength!"
"This time, I agree with Mary." Jerome, with the black sword on his back, said,
"When the Balram Alliance was around, you never heard of the Council daring to besiege any guild like this.
"We're just too scattered and appear too weak, that's why they see us as easy targets."
"Ocha..." Haomen suddenly found his two companions' reasoning quite valid, "If that's the case, then let them witness our power, the goddess of luck will favor us!"
The three senior members reached an agreement and gave the attack order.
Nearly three hundred sect members charged out with high morale; even though they were surrounded, it did not affect their spirits in the slightest.
Zeref would bless them, and even if mishaps occurred, their souls would return to Zeref. With devout faith, they would be reborn in the Great Magic Realm!
"Everything for Zeref!"
"Charge!"
"Slaughter all who block our path!"
Lahar's team had clashed with these people once, knowing how crazy Zeref's followers could be.
But they were not afraid.
If I defeat these people here, more will appear later, and countless innocents will die due to their plans.
The soldiers of the Strong Detention Team also had their own beliefs, to maintain the Magic Realm's stability and protect law-abiding citizens!
"Arrest them!"
"We cannot disappoint Lord Uluvheim again!"
"For the innocent civilians!"
The first and second squads faced Jerome's hundred-member team.
Viewed from above, the white-robed Strong Detention Team clashed with the black-robed sect members, like two ant swarms of opposing colors colliding.
Initially distinct, they soon grappled with each other, gradually mingling.
Compared to the Black Magic Sect, relying solely on individual bravery and on-the-spot performance, the Strong Detention Team had undergone rigorous training, improving individual abilities and honing a tacit understanding among team members.
The Council's side quickly gained the upper hand.
Members of the Black Magic Sect kept falling... until Jerome took action.
With a light leap, Jerome stepped on his comrades' shoulders, flying forward in just a few strides.
Jerome drew his black sword in mid-air, and as he landed, two Council soldiers already had blood spraying from their chests, and black smoke emerging as they lay on the ground.
Even their weapons were sliced, showing black corrosion marks at the cuts.
"Decent soldiers, but my sword is a Dark Sword that corrodes everything it touches!"
The few nearby exchanged quick glances and shouted, "All at once!"
"Hmph!" Jerome quickly rose from his crouched position, swiping the black sword at a speed almost invisible to others, in a half-circle.
Like the previous two, four soldiers had their weapons corroded and broken, their waists blooming with blood and black smoke.
The sect members cheered loudly: "Master Jerome forever!"
Jerome smiled, setting his sights on the next target: "This is only the beginning!"
Two squad leaders from the first and second squads immediately stepped forth to intercept: "Don't think you'll succeed!"
Jerome stared at them: "You two seem more worthy of being cleaved by my sword."
...
On another front, the squad led by Mary met the second squad:
"You all look a little familiar; what kind of sickness would you like to experience this time? Ahahaha!"
The second squad felt a bit tense, but they still charged ahead, clashing with Mary's team.
"You never learn." Mary raised her hands, aiming her palms at the dozen closest to her, "Try this move!"
Everyone felt a stabbing pain in their abdomen, instinctively wanting to clutch their stomachs and crouch down.
"What an opportunity!"
"It's Lady Mary's disease magic!"
"Strike them now!"
Sect members raised their weapons and charged forward, but when they swung down, they found all were blocked.
Wendy's pleasant voice echoed: "Abnormal status neutralized, resistance to abnormal status increased, and by the way... power enhancement, defense enhancement, speed enhancement!"
The soldiers exclaimed in delight:
"The pain's going away immediately!"
"I feel so much stronger!"
"My body feels so light!"
"Take this!"
Those attempting to finish them off were almost all taken down themselves.
Mary stared in shock at the flashing light around her opponents: "What's going on? Why is my magic... not working?!"
At the same time, Reby's voice resounded: "Gajeel, you're charging too fast! Wendy is over here!"